Karan Singh's Stellar Run Ends as He Claims Runner-Up at M25 Kolkata
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Kolkata, March 15 (NationPress) Karan Singh demonstrated remarkable tenacity before succumbing to Australia's Philip Sekulic in the championship match of the ITF Men's World Tennis Tour M25 Kolkata tournament on Sunday.
At the Bengal Tennis Association stadium, Karan Singh, representing the Roundglass Tennis Academy, faced a tough start in the singles final but rallied impressively in the second set. He pushed Sekulic to a tie-breaker in the second set, ultimately losing with scores of 1-6, 6-7.
Even with this setback, Karan's journey to the final of the $25,000 hard-court event showcases his increasing physical and strategic maturity as he navigates the professional circuit.
As the second seed, Karan Singh exhibited outstanding performance throughout the tournament. He began his campaign with a closely contested 7-6(5), 6-4 win over compatriot Aditya Balsekar in the first round. In the second round, he confidently defeated Russia's Bekhan Atlangeriev with a score of 6-2, 7-6(4).
In the quarterfinals, Karan showed immense resolve, overcoming eighth seed Yurii Dzhavakian from Ukraine in a challenging three-set match, coming back from a set down to win 6-7, 6-3, 7-5. He continued this trend in the semifinals, making another impressive comeback against fellow Indian Sidharth Rawat with scores of 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 to secure his place in the final.
Karan's runner-up position in Kolkata adds to his series of strong performances this year on the professional circuit. Earlier in January, the 22-year-old secured the ITF M15 Hyderabad singles title—his first professional singles title on Indian soil—by defeating top seed Max Houkes from the Netherlands in straight sets.
Moreover, Karan's rising profile has allowed him to consistently participate in higher-level ATP Challenger 100 and 75 events this year, making main draw appearances in Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, and New Delhi.
His ongoing development, capacity to challenge higher-ranked players, and commanding presence on the court recently earned him a well-deserved place on the Indian Davis Cup team, solidifying his status as one of the most promising tennis talents in the country.
Karan trains at the Roundglass Tennis Academy in Chandigarh, where he continues to refine his all-around game.